Ground reality: CPM cash crunch

CPM workers sit on the ground at a meeting in Rampurhat. Picture by Snehamoy Chakraborty

Suri, April 6: Acash crunch has robbed the beleaguered CPM of chairs in Birbhum.

Local businessmen who earlier made “contributions” for meetings organised by the Left party now allegedly do so for Trinamul.

The result: CPM workers participating in party meetings are sitting on the ground while the leaders addressing them are managing with the few hired plastic chairs.

A senior district CPM leader told The Telegraph: “It’s hard these days to get donations from local sympathisers because they are now contributing to the ruling party. We have no money to hire chairs for our workers. We have also done away with post-meeting snacks or tea.”

The CPM has had to organise meetings without too many chairs over the past fortnight in Labhpur, Suri, Bolpur and Mohammad Bazaar.

A Bolpur businessman said: “There is no reason why we should contribute for Left meetings. We usually help the ruling party because they help us in return.” He declined to say what he meant by “help”.

Trinamul vice-president of Birbhum Moloy Mukhopadhyay said the party didn’t ask for contributions from traders. “We accept money only from those who are associated with our party.”

A CPM leader said the funds crunch could be felt during campaigns, where most party cadres are seen walking by the candidate’s vehicle.